Is the Pope immune to mistakes?

Question

If so, howcome he is apoligizing for saying something wrong about Islam in his previous lecture? Isn't apoligizing recognizing your mistake?

"In a broader talk rejecting any religious motivation for violence, Benedict cited the words of a Byzantine emperor who characterized some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as "evil and inhuman," particularly "his command to spread by the sword the faith."

That's what the pope said, and I didn't make this up. I got it from Yahoo news.

It seems you have forgotten that Christianty was forced on people that were under the rule of the Europeans. I don't think the North American Indians became christians by choice.

Answer 1

being sorry is better than suiciding

Answer 2

The Pope can, and does, make mistakes. He's only human. However, in quoting a 14th century Byzantine emperor on Islam and violence, he was right on the money. Here is the quote: "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

People talk about God [Christian] forcing people to choose Him or go to hell. Mohamed, and today's radical fundamentalist Muslims, use physical violence to force their religion on the infidels [us].

I believe the mistake the Pope made was in apologizing for telling the truth. He, above all people, should be exposing evil in all its ugliness. Instead, he caved into political pressure and apologized.

Answer 3

You can't force Christianity on anyone. Whether or not a person chooses to believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is completely up to them, and people should only be concerned with their own salvation.

Insofar as the Pope being immune to mistakes...NO. He's a Human being just like you are and being a Christian he's knows to admit, repent, and apologize for mistakes he's made and try not to commit the mistake again

We're taught to FORGIVE and ask for FORGIVNESSS.

Answer 4

He would probably apologize if he thought he had made a mistake. Obviously, he does not think that he made a mistake. Think about it. He was delivering a written speech. He went to the trouble to research the reference. It was deliberate.

Cardinal Tarcisio Berton's statement was that Pope Benedict , "thus sincerely regrets that certain passages of his address could have sounded offensive to the sensitivities of the Muslim faithful and should have been interpreted in a manner that in no way corresponds to his intentions,"

That is a non-apology. It actually reaffirms the Pope's remarks and only acknowledges Muslim outrage.

The Pope's position on Islam in the consilar document Nostra Aetate: "The Church regards with esteem also the Muslims. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all-powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth, Who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting". That is clear.

However, the issue of violence in Islam is what the Pope criticized. You can see the full statement at the website below.
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Answer 5

When you say "immune to mistakes" do you mean is the pope infallible? I am not a Catholic, but the infallibility is supposed to be regarding church doctrine not lectures on the evils of Islam.

Answer 6

He said that people shouldn't use religion as an excuse for hate and killing other people. That is what the muslims have been saying. So what is the complaint?
why can they demonstrate against some old man. But the mass murder of innocent people doesn't get a peep?

Answer 7

he did not apoligize for saying anything, you should read it all
and what he did say was true, it is written in the couran that if you cant convert then kill. they really are evil people and the pope was right to quote what he did, he has nothing to say sorry about as he was merely quoting. the guy who he was quoting was the really correct one, and he should know as most of his country was killed by muslims.

Answer 8

He didn't make a mistake.. what he said was what someone actually said some time ago.. it is the truth and that is why the Islamists are up in arms. They don't apparently understand their own holy book. Or the history of its creator.

Answer 9

No man or woman is immune to mistakes or being wrong. He is just the Pope (he ain't God). However, is nothing wrong with making a mistake as long as you learn from them.

Answer 10

Have you actually read what the Pope said?

Here is a link to the English translation of the Pope's controversial speech: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg_en.html

With love in Christ.

Answer 11

there is always to side of the coins, creating or inciting to more trouble is more dangerous than apologizing or to appease some one to do right in the name of peace is more honorable than making a point of nowhere.